117 Responses

To all anonymous posters. Scotia did what it did. Lot of haters through out the months…anonymously. That game could have went to us… Comments about Sausville are moot… they live HERE. Think about it. Academy is not to be eschewed in light of S.G. We root for them. Who roots for Scotia, an anomaly, a true “hoosiers” team? Instead, they’ve garnered wrath, and unless anyone’s EVER seen them play, they are the personification of TEAM. They’ll be back.

@Eric Almond…I think you and most of, not all Scotia bloggers, through this year were riding a huge wave of invincibility and also somewhat of a Mets fan – Yankee hater complex towards Academy and some of the private schools..they were the ones making the comparisons and saying that Scotia would beat and could beat every team in Section 2..Most if not all the replys backed Scotia as a really good team with a great coach..No one downed them other than to say they needed to beat some good teams to be anointed as the best ever in Section 2..not one person hated Scotia and I for one wanted them to win the states, does that sound like a hater? this team had a great run, they could have beaten Ludden, but my thinking is they were not in that position this year, having to play through adversity and play from behind, so that hurt them a little..playing better comp. during the year and maybe losing a game or 2 to some AA team in the area may have prepared them better..They will be very good again next year and I will be rooting for them..Good Luck to the teams still playing, Everyone should go to the Federation Tournament March 22 and 23rd if you want to see what is out there in High School Hoop..

Yes, Scotia got knocked out by Bishop Ludden, but to say they don’t belong with the top teams in the section, or aren’t good outside of class A, or that the Academy comparisons should end is wrong. Academy beat Ludden by 7 and Scotia lost to them by 5 on an awful shooting night for the team. It shows they would probably play a petty close game. A normal Scotia shooting night = a victory against Ludden. Plus, Scotia obviously got a rough draw getting the #3 team in the state for the QFs. Ludden might very well win states. The boys certainly weren’t outplayed by any stretch of the imagination. 22-1 is a remarkable season, even if it ended a little prematurely. Just lookout next year. Scotia only loses one impotant player(Tabbert(who didn’t really show up in any of the playoff games this year)) LeMorta will be a deadly shooter next year, Sausville will be back and ready to go, Cremo will probably runaway with a few awards next year again and the supporting cast will be just as good, if ot better than this year. State championhip should be the goal for this team next year. If anyone thinks they won’t contend for it, you’re just silly.

Bigtimefan is Right. @Andrew & Eric almond. Nobody’s hating on Scotia but based on theory you can’t say Scotia belongs in the top teams in section 2 if they don’t even play the top teams or at least the mediocre teams (which they should have). I don’t have anything against Scotia but that was literally the only good team they’ve played this year. The only reason why Academy gets more respect over Scotia is because they actually have/had to work for their wins. Like CBA, Troy, GT, Bethlehem & etc. They’ve beaten teams(including the past, not Bethlehem) who had more talent than them but managed to win not only because of coaching ability but because they’re used to good comp. and they played hard. That’s who you gain respect. Not saying Scotia doesn’t play hard but before the game starts you already know who’s about to win (besides the Ludden game). Bethlehem was mediocre but gained alot of respect because they proved themselves beating CBA(CBA with a couple guys out), Midtown(out of area but also really good who Green Tech lost to) and losing to Troy by 2pts (without their star player Nate Kane). Now because of a successful regular season of doing good work now Bethlehem gained their publicity. It’s just kind of irrelevant to compare a team with a good schedule and plays at a totally different league with tougher players to a team with easier schedule who doesn’t test themselves with that hard of comp as class AA. A totally different league & pace. If Scotia is brought into this you might as well why not bring Watervliet into this too, who I’ve heard beat Scotia in a scrimmage. Not hating, they are a good team but these are two totally different levels. It’s true…..

Andrew — you are still going… Scotia had a good team, not a great team. Next year they will have the potential to be an even better team provided their coach puts them on the floor against some quality teams. Scotia nation always parrots the margin of victory like it matters, but when you are just running up the score on weak teams it does not prepare you for a challenge. Ludden was a challenge, Burke would have been an even bigger challenge. If a title is their goal, they will need to change their approach next year.

@Andrew, Scotia shot 61 percent in the first half and still were down, what stats are you looking at?? Ludden was the only good team Scotia played all year and they lost, period. Ludden was not even in the top 10 hardest teams that AA played behind LI Lutheran (2), Burke Catholic, Kingston, Kearney, Henninger, Green Tech, Brooklyn Nazarath, Collegiate, and some would argue Watervliet. Scotia has a great player in Cremo and a good system for the balance of talent. If you want to compare them next year schedule AA, Green Tech, and a top ranked out of area team, otherwise, you argument is a joke.

@Andrew..poor shooting night = good pressure defense..a normal game during the year for Academy and they won 14 games..Rough draw?? Burke Catholic, Amityville! Buffalo McKinley, Aquinos, didn’t matter who the draw was, all these teams are the best in the state..this is who you play..Comparison with AA vs. Ludden..that game was 10 when a Ludden player through up a prayer at the buzzer to make it 7..at Ludden with 20 AA parents in the stands and 300 Ludden fans ..big difference.Until Scotia gets a good big and a dominate point they will struggle with good teams..they are a solid team who lived and died by the 3 during a very weak conference schedule..Troy,CBA,Green Tech, Bethlahem, Shaker, LaSalle, Academy, in no certain order are all teams Scotia wouldn’t beat..So maybe top 10 in Section 2?? I’ll give you that..Good luck next year..

Tabbert didn’t show up in the playoffs? Didn’t he have a triple double the game before they lost to Ludden? Also, I hate when people say their team didn’t play well, maybe they didn’t play well because the other team was better and caused them to not play well. Ludden is bigger and probably more athletic than Scotia. Those 2 factors probably had a lot to do with why Scotia “didn’t play well” (even though they shot 61% in the first 1/2). So for Scotia this was the first time in a REAL GAME they trailed often, they played a more athletic team, they played a talented team and they played against talented bigs and that = their first loss. Hmmmmm, sounds like my Notre Dame football reference from earlier in the season. Am I psychic, no, just realistic!

Scotia played academy and green tech this year after sectionals were set up 4 byes 4 all the teams they just didn’t want people to go scotia beat both of them why schedule some one when there coaches don’t know who there gonna be putting out there both schools have potential to get any one they want . That’s the difference just imagine scotia with a guy over 6″3 be nice if they could recruit one hahahahahahahahahaha joke to get one that way still high school basketball people on this don’t give justice to a team that is home grown and selected

@Scotia Suit. People aren’t giving Scotia their justice?! The only reason why people are now saying this stuff about Scotia is because you and these Scotia fans O.D overrating Scotia. You guys are the ones setting Scotia up. Every person on this blog commenting about Scotia said that Scotia was either a good team, a great team, or giving them their props, we all said it but now because Scotia won sectionals and went undefeated everyone’s acting like, saying and thinking Scotia is better or with these top section 2 teams, or they should be on “CBA and Academy” or players should be @ private schools, how the coaches can out coach anyone in the state etc.
That class D team Argyle is having the best season overall, is still undefeated & the best in the state for class D. Now do you hear anyone talking about their team being one of the best teams in the area when there are higher class teams in better levels No.
I do agree with madaboutmarch how Scotia should be in class AA. We all respect Scotia but only up to a certain extend because when it comes to AA it’s not the same. We all know Scotias the best in Foothills/class A(for section 2) but if you compare them to these AA teams it doesn’t impress us when they’re beating teams that aren’t a threat or doesn’t have a good program. If CBA was beating these foothill teams would they have the respect that they have now no. The same with Troy would they no. They gotta bring something different to persuade people. Beating Broadalhin, Hudson Falls, Queensbury ain’t gonna impressive anybody when half or Big Ten teams could beat them by 20+pts.
But I’m telling y’all if Scotia was that good and hot stuff they would have or would move to AA just like Green Tech. I’m telling y’all, a coach knows their team and their players and if they were that good they would be there. A coach knows if their team is capable and if their still in class A that’s just where they belong. Just don’t hype a team above what they could do & who they are. I’ve always credited Scotia but don’t think they’re the top maybe the 9th or 10th best ten in section 2 area but not top five. A really good team …. but don’t overdue their due.

@Scotia Suit..again with the scrimmages? Really? I know that when they played AA in a scrimmage AA didn’t play White or Moutopoulous, both were injured..they had a Frosh and Soph playing guards, and not sure how you can say who won or loss, scoreboard went to 0 every quarter ..Green Tech is a Charter School in Albany, they only have Albany kids..now you want to imagine a player on your team? your team is your team, they are who they are…be really happy you are a sectional champ for 2013 and come back next year and repeat..

I am a Scotia fan. The team went 22-1 and had a terrific year but the boys nor the coaches are satisfied. I know they were right back at it the next day after the loss to Ludden whith the thoughts of getting back there next season with a different outcome. I have no doubt with the hard work they put in between now and then that its going to happen. No matter who they played during the year or in their scrimmages even matters now. They will miss Tabbert because he is a great hustler and does the things nobody else does, but they will fill that spot and be just as good if not better next year. I CAN’T WAIT!

1) Tabbert didn’t have a good playoffs. Yes, he had a triple-double against Massena, but that was a 43-point win. His numbers, overall, were down quite a bit from his regular season numbers. Just go back and have a look.

2)Obviously Scotia was effected by better play and defense by Ludden. I’m not an idiot. I know that was the case.

3) Shooting 61% in the first half is just one half. How about the second half? They missed their last 8 or 9 shots from the field. You can’t attribute all of that to great defense.

4) Saying they trailed often is true, but they weren’t ever down by double digits, and were in the lead for some portions of the game.

5) No one commenting in support of Scotia is saying they’d be the best of, or constantly beating the top AA teams if they played them. They are simply saying they could compete with them. Personally, I think the boys could finish top 2 or 3 in the suburban and maybe 3rd or 4th in the Big 10.

6) Don’t knock the Scotia-Glenville education system. It’s actually one of the best schools in the area.

@ manti’s & big time fan & facts catch some summer league games when u see scotia against these teams that you consider top in section 2 mabey those hard working guys will earn some more respect in your eyes then. You all say there a good team and they play bad schools and class double AA would beat them pretty sure no one wants to lose so those games will be highly competitive. They played AA 2 times this year and there were no more then 10 people in the gym the 2nd time witch was after seedings were set for sectionals! so if you were their you would have seen a 28 point deference in the 2 teams. Plus if you add before they erase the scores that’s how you keep track. It don’t matter now but we will continue this arguement for years to come as scotia will be better and better as time passes rember they played 4 sophomores this year and 2 juniors. This team has will and fight to be better then many teams that people don’t think they can beat. P.S. Manti’s Girlfriend my guess is your basketball knowledge is that of a 3rd grade girls CYO coach so nice of you to chime in with your comments.

Look guys, I’m done trying to convince you that I am a fan of Scotia..I wanted to be going to Glens Falls this weekend to root them on in their quest for a state title..I wasn’t yet convinced that they could because I was concerned with their strength of schedule, it would hurt them against better teams..what I have been saying all along is you have to play against better to get better..If you don’t understand that ask yourself why Academy is 14-4 and is the No.1 ranked team in NYS class A? The 2,3, and 5 teams, Ludden, Burke Catholic, and Nazareth, were all beaten by AA during the year..Scotia’s highest ranking, even at 22-0 was what 5th? So are you saying the sportswriters were also biased against Scotia? I will be watching Troy, strong strength of schedule playing LUHI and stronger teams during the year and also Vliet, who again played a very strong strength of schedule..it really does matter..they have been tested and know what it is..it would have helped Scotia to know what was there and how to compete against it..Scrimmages and score comparisons are for novices trying to make a point, they mean nothing..

Scotia suit — what is it with you guys and scrimmages? In the last scrimmage AA played 4 starters for 1 quarter and I believe the score was one sided in favor of Academy. After that they played the bench and guys up from JV. Summer league games are also not much of an indicator since teams often don’t have their full roster. Schedule some games next year and then we will talk.

Great stuff at the GFCC..Congrats to Argyle, L.G., and Vliet..Also a big congrats to Troy..Hurley is the best coach in Sect.2…Could have won vs. Kearney but a Frosh mistake with 20 sec.might have cost them the game..some might say he could have called a time out, but I think he had already laid out the plan during the previous TO and it didn’t happen..Tough break but they are kids…So next weekend, Vliet, Troy girls, and Albany Academy will be playing at the TU..If you haven’t been there before, you’re in for some great high school hoop..The Times Union web site has the brackets and times and I’m sure Mr. Allen will be writing some great stuff during the week..See you all there…

I watched on TW50. First off the commentary was fantastic-I’ve listened to Huerter/Lee on Siena games and it was like they were watching Argyle/Lake George/Watervliet all year long. Good interviews by Brian Sinkoff as well. Some of the coaching by MLK was questionable-Argyle ran away with it in the third quarter and yet no time-out even seemed to be considered. Lake George played a solid game against a very, very good team from Pine Plains. As for the Watervliet game the Cannoneers got a little sloppy once they got a big lead and it almost came back to bite them. I’m glad that this year Watervliet finished and got their state title. Back to back state title losses would have been too much to handle I can imagine.

Looks like the blogging is done..Too bad, the Federation Tournament will be a great weekend with the Troy girls and Vliet, AA playing..If you guys are really hoop junkies you shouldn’t miss it..I’m sure the Scotia guys will not be there, but that’s ok.. They can dream about another undefeated season next year..good luck to the 3 teams, you all deserve to be there after a long hard year..please show some Sect. 2 pride and come out and support the schools…

I was unable to make the Academy game today due to having a day job.. I heard that it was a typical Academy game and that the last the second of the game was quaestionable? Anyone have info or thoughts?

I will of course be there tomorrow to watch the Vliet game… no question there.

Then off to some afternoon AAU games up north… which so happens to have the 11/12h grade Scotia team in it…
Not as good as the State or Federation Tournament!!!